Mineral Properties What is a mineral?

Minerals have four characteristics…

Forms in Nature Form in different ways, but all in nature Not “man made” Examples: Halite (table salt) – forms when water evaporates in hot, shallow parts of the ocean Talc – forms deep in Earth as high pressure and temperature cause changes in rocks

Is a Solid Takes up a defined amount of space and a rigid shape

Has a Definite Chemical Makeup Each mineral consists of a specific combination of atoms of certain elements Everything you can see or touch is made of atoms, some minerals have one type of atom, others have multiple types EX: Halite – made of sodium atoms

Atom - Structure Halite is made of atoms!

Has a Crystal Structure Crystal – a solid in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating 3D pattern Each mineral has its own type of crystal structure EX: diamonds and graphite consist of only the element carbon. These minerals are different because of their crystal structure.

How are the structures different? Graphite Diamond